In this SuperfastCPA podcast interview, you’ll hear how Jeffrey had to overcome a language barrier, moving to the U.S. from China, and numerous other obstacles on his journey to get his CPA exams.
One of the main issues he had with the study process was retention, since he was learning the CPA exam material in a second language. So in this interview you’ll hear how he used different strategies to boost his retention, and ultimately start passing his CPA exams.
IMPORTANT LINKS:
Master your study process by attending one of our free study training workshops:
https://www.superfastcpa.com/study-secrets/
Episode Timestamps
- 00:00 Jeffrey Interview
- 02:44 Why Pursue Accounting
- 04:48 Lost the Chance to Take the CPA Exams in 2023
- 07:57 Finding SuperfastCPA
- 09:34 Jeffrey’s Struggles Before SuperfastCPA
- 10:58 Things that Made Sense from the SuperfastCPA Ad
- 13:05 Used SuperfastCPA to Gain Confidence
- 14:22 Using SuperfastCPA on the Go
- 16:29 Used the Condensed Materials of SuperfastCPA to Learn
- 19:23 Not a Morning Person, Studied in the Afternoon and Evenings
- 21:12 Passed All First Try
- 23:16 Studied Using the Questions First Method
- 24:21 Took 2-3 Months to Finish Each Section
- 25:53 Key Things From SuperfastCPA
- 27:43 Daily Review Sessions
- 29:01 Did Task Based Sims on the Weekends
- 31:10 Had Time to Relax in the Evenings and Have Hobbies
- 34:15 Took Notes on a Spreadsheet
- 35:43 A Word of Encouragement to People Studying
- 38:15 Celebrated Passing with Family
Interview Transcript
Jeffrey: [00:00:00] The content of SuperfastCPA can help me clarify some points. I just remember like, the lease accounting and it is a little bit confusing, but when I use SuperfastCPA and first time I listened to that, I felt more clear. So yeah, I mean, you can study from a different, different angle, so
Logan: Right.
Jeffrey: Maybe if I study on Becker and maybe there were too many contents, so that’s a problem. But if you put everything, you know, compress everything, and it can be helpful.
Logan: Welcome to another episode of the CPA Exam Experience podcast from Superfast CPA. In [00:01:00] today’s video, you’re gonna hear me talking to Jeffrey.
Now, one thing I wanna say as we jump into this podcast interview is Nate has handed over the podcast to me for the most part. So most of the podcast interviews from now on will be me and people who used SuperfastCPA. Nate might still be on a few of the podcasts, but he has handed it over to me, so I’m excited for that. But in the end, it doesn’t matter who the host is, what matters is the stories behind these people passing the CPA exam. And let’s talk about Jeffrey’s story.
So Jeffrey has a really interesting story. He actually moved from China after already kind of having a career there. And when he came here, he had already had some experience with finances and things like that, but he got into accounting and decided to go for the CPA because it would give him the most opportunities. And even though English was his second language, he still did exceptionally well. He found SuperfastCPA pretty early on in the process, as you’ll hear him mention multiple times throughout the interview, just followed exactly what we said, followed exactly [00:02:00] what Nate laid out, and he passed all of his exams, first try. And you’ll hear him talk about the things that he thought were the most impactful.
Mainly he loved listening to the audio notes, and he also loved the boost in confidence that it gave him because he felt like he was really learning what he needed to know for the exam. So, I think you’re gonna love this interview with Jeffrey.
And just before we jump into the interview with Jeffrey, I just wanna give everyone one more reminder about the SuperfastCPA training webinar on superfastcpa.com. In that one hour webinar, we will teach you the key ingredients to passing the CPA exam so you don’t waste months or even years of your time failing exams.
So make sure you check out that webinar. It is totally worth your time so make sure you go check that out after you finish this episode. With that, let’s dive into the episode with Jeffrey.
Why Pursue Accounting
Logan: Where were you when you were, before you were about to start the CPA? Like what were you doing in your career?
Jeffrey: Yeah. Okay. So I majored accounting, uh, when I study, when, when I was in [00:03:00] university.
Logan: Right.
Jeffrey: And so I have been a finance manager for many years and, and also I worked in China, my major, um, you know, career experience was in China. And when I, uh, come to US, I want myself to, you know, to have some strong background. And I don’t have, like, you know, I don’t have US, uh, college diploma.
Logan: Mm-hmm.
Jeffrey: Uh, but I think the major reason, you know, if I can get CPA, at least I have a good license, uh, to demonstrate myself and for me to, you know, to have, to have more opportunities, um, to, you know, for, for my future career. So that’s the major purpose, uh, I’m trying to, um, pass the CPA [00:04:00] exam.
Logan: Right. And, and, uh, so you moved to the United States. How, how long have you been in the United States?
Jeffrey: Um, about. Let’s see, like six, six years.
Logan: Awesome.
And, uh, at what point, like after moving to the US were you kind of starting to want the CPA license? Was it right away, or, uh, when did that really start?
Jeffrey: Um, actually after several years, um, you know, uh, from 2023 and yeah, I have a full-time, I have two jobs, one full-time and one part-time. And the full-time job at that time, it was, you know, I, I have some flexibility, so I, I plan to stu to, to prepare the CPA exam.
Lost the Chance to Take the CPA Exams in 2023
Logan: Okay, so, at what point did you, like so you said it was in 2023, and how did you start, like did you get a review course? What, what was your studying like when you very first [00:05:00] started?
Jeffrey: Yeah, that’s, uh, this is a, uh, some story like, you know, because my, uh, my college transcript was in China, so I spent some time to, to, to bring here, and I didn’t have any clue. So, um, I mean, in theory I should talk to, you know, I, I can search online to find like, Becker, Surgent and those, um, uh, those service provide, vendors.
But, but Becker, uh, Becker has some, uh, has a partner in China. And so I just reach out to them and then, uh, I said, I don’t know how to start. And they said, you just purchase Becker and we can help you to, you know, to, to get through. [00:06:00] Because different, uh, state has different, uh, policy, so, and I, I didn’t have any clue at that time.
So they, they just guide me step by step and in, and also, I, I, I start, I started to study, uh, the, the course in 2023.
Logan: Mm-hmm.
Jeffrey: Uh, you know, I, but, you know, they, they won’t, and those books are too huge. And then, um, then, uh, also it took me like several months to, uh, transfer the transcript so it’s not in, and it’s not in, in good situation.
And so in 2023, I just started a little bit, but not in, um, you know, I was not good [00:07:00] equipped.
Logan: Right.
Jeffrey: Also in, in the second half of 2023, maybe the last quarter, and I plan to, I plan to, um, take the first one is BEC because I was told BEC will be gone. And actually the, and many, so those people said, okay, the future exam would be more difficult.
Logan: Uhhuh.
Jeffrey: So I try to try to take, um, BEC first, but the NASBA website had a change and I, I didn’t, you know, I didn’t, uh, I don’t re, I, I don’t remember what happened, but, I lose the opportunity to take the, the exam in 2023.
Logan: Okay.
Finding SuperfastCPA
Jeffrey: So then I, I, I tried [00:08:00] to, you know, start the first, uh, exam in Q1 in 2024.
Logan: Mm-hmm.
Jeffrey: And then I saw, and I, I, I want to, I wanted to do BAR first.
Logan: Okay.
Jeffrey: But then I saw BAR only has a short limit, short, you know, because this is elected, uh, elected, uh, section. So
Logan: The discipline?
Jeffrey: It has a short, short time. And then I think, oh, I have to, then I, I, I just switched to FAR.
Then, uh, in February I saw Nate on the. Um, on Facebook and I was very overwhelmed because, you know, I have to, so many change.
And I, when I saw this, I saw, okay, he can pass like in several [00:09:00] months and also, uh, in short time. And I think it, it, it is good to have something, um, you know, the compressed,
Logan: Mm-hmm.
Jeffrey: So you take, take out the, the, the, the key, uh, point and that will be helpful. So I just, uh, registered, um, I, I bought your product and I, I also, I also, uh, find out how to study, um.
Jeffrey’s Struggles Before SuperfastCPA
Logan: So, so if I can stop you, but, um, so before we get into what you learned through SuperfastCPA, what, what was the main struggle that you were having that made you want to, that made you interested in SuperfastCPA?
Like how were you studying like before?
Jeffrey: That’s a good reminder. Yeah. Just, just retain, it’s, it’s hard to retain what you have learned.
Logan: Okay.
Jeffrey: And [00:10:00] when, when I learned this, uh, you know, this part I. I forgot, like, like two weeks ago. What, what I, what did I learn? So yeah, that truly, that that’s the major purpose. It’s not, it, it, it, uh, I was overwhelmed.
That’s, that’s the first and the second one, yeah. It is, it is very difficult to, to retain what I have learned. I, I just remember this. It is a very good remind, reminding, yeah.
Logan: So your main struggle was that, you know, even though you were studying and everything, it was just too hard to remember everything that you had studied.
Jeffrey: Yeah.
Logan: And were you studying, what, how were you studying? Were you studying at night? In the more, like, what was it, what did it look like when you were studying before you found SuperfastCPA?
Jeffrey: Uh, I, I study a lot at night and also, yeah, and you are right. If you don’t repeat you, you, you, you’ll forget.
Logan: Right.
Jeffrey: Yeah, it should be,
Things that Made Sense from the SuperfastCPA Ad
Logan: And so, based on what you’re [00:11:00] saying there, what was, so you, you know, you were struggling to retain things, you were overwhelmed, you saw Nate’s on Facebook, you saw SuperfastCPA on Facebook, and what was it that stuck out to you about SuperfastCPA that made you want to try it?
Jeffrey: I think because Nate said, Okay, you may have those kind of problem and I think the, the first problem of, to me, of course, is how to retain.
Logan: Right
Jeffrey: And you know, if you go through from the beginning to the ending from A to Z, yeah. It is hard. You, and then you go back again, you don’t have so, so much time to, you know, you.
Logan: Cram it all again.
Jeffrey: Yeah, yeah. You, you, you don’t have so much time and you should have, you know, I, I just used the traditional method, so I, I, I was very frustrated
Logan: Mm-hmm.[00:12:00]
Jeffrey: And when I found out, okay, yeah, this might be a, a good solution, I can always listen, um, you know, to the key, uh, key knowledge, key points. And then, um, actually I will say. It helped me, helped me to build the confidence to study.
Yeah. And even, I mean, in the beginning, I don’t know when should I, you know, schedule the exam? How many months? So when I studied this, uh, from, from February, uh, when I studied, uh, FAR with SuperfastCPA, uh, last February and I, I felt much more confident and I, I scheduled the, the first exam, uh, in the mid of [00:13:00] April.
So, and it helps. It helped, yeah.
Used SuperfastCPA to Gain Confidence
Logan: And, and so what did you change about your study process once you got SuperfastCPA? So what, what did you change that made you feel more confident?
Jeffrey: Um, I, I follow the methodology. You know, so you, um, yes, you can use the, you can use Becker and use others, but you, you should, you know, uh, take notes, uh, you know, where you fell. And then at the same time, uh, when I have, when I have time, I can listen, you know, from beginning to the ending and then, uh, if I, so even I can learn something, I have never, I, I haven’t learned from, uh, those professors in, from Becker. And [00:14:00] then if I, uh, you know, learn from them and of course things, uh, it’s much easier for me to, to master, uh, what they, they talked.
Logan: Right.
Jeffrey: Yeah, that, and I mean, traditional way is, is very time consuming.
Logan: Right. Yeah.
Using SuperfastCPA on the Go
Logan: So, so you were saying that you were studying in the evenings and it was taking up a lot of your time, so, and you were kind of mentioning that you switched to everything that SuperfastCPA said. So did you start studying in the morning? Did you study for two hours? Were you doing the mini quiz, like, did you do everything that SuperfastCPA recommends?
Jeffrey: Yeah. Like, you know, um, in the morning, I have a habit to, you know, to walk around, um, like for one hour. And before that, uh, I can’t do anything. But when I use [00:15:00] the, uh, Superfast, I, I can study and also, um, the other thing, you know, helped me a lot is in, I was busy in, in Q1 and I mean before April, 2024. I have several, uh, travel, so I mean, I can study when I was in airport, um, and, and also anyway, on the road, so it helped.
Logan: So you were, so you loved being able to study on the go. So you were, you listened to the audio notes, did you do the mini quizzes and the review notes as well?
Jeffrey: Uh, mini quiz. I didn’t, I’m sorry, but may, maybe, maybe, yeah, maybe it must, it can be much helpful, but.
Logan: Mm-hmm.
Jeffrey: I didn’t use the, the cell phone. I, I don’t like use [00:16:00] the cell phone, you know, to do something like that. I mean, the screen is too small.
Yeah, but, but look, I, I mean, I have the habit, uh, to, you know, to listen to, to study something else or listen to something. Uh, you know, on YouTube or something else, uh, when I was working. So, it is quite helpful.
Used the Condensed Materials of SuperfastCPA to Learn
Jeffrey: I just switch the, you know, what, what I’m listening, uh, then I can, I can focus and also, um, for example, also sometimes the, um, the content of SuperfastCPA can help me clarify some points. I just remember like, um, the lease accounting and it is a little bit confusing, but [00:17:00] when I use SuperfastCPA and I was in, first time I listened to that, I was at the airport of Chicago.
And I, when I listened to that, I thought, okay, I felt more clear. So yeah, I mean, you can’t define, you know, how, how it can help you. But, but anyway, you can study from a different, different angle, so
Logan: Right.
Jeffrey: Maybe if I study on Becker and maybe there were too many contents, so that’s a problem. But if you put everything, you know, compress everything, and it can be helpful.
Logan: So, so you liked how we were able to kind of condense the material for you and maybe help you see it in a new way, uh, kind of getting it at it from a different angle.
So would, you know, you like to listen to the audio notes, you, you said that [00:18:00] you listened to those every, so you have a habit to walk. Do you like go on a walk outside, uh, every morning for an hour? Is that what you’re saying?
Jeffrey: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Logan: Nice. then after you did that hour walk, what, what time did you wake up? What time do you wake up to do that?
Jeffrey: Um, like 6:30 like that.
Logan: Okay.
Jeffrey: Because my kids need to go to school.
Logan: Right, right.
Jeffrey: Yeah. And normally I stop work, you know, around 10 cause I have a, um, you know, I was in a different, uh, you know, time zone with my employer. So, um, I had, I had, I do have one hour more so I can start from 10 so I can, you know, I, I have like, uh, you know, maybe three hours, you know, so I can manage those, those time.
And I’m not a morning person if you want me to study. Go to [00:19:00] a computer to study Becker and also do exercise. I don’t think it can be efficient, but just listen to, uh, you know, more simpler, um, knowledge through Superfast, it fits me, okay, I will say.
Not a Morning Person, Studied in the Afternoon and Evenings
Logan: And so after your hour of audio notes, what, when did you typically do your like study session each day with Becker? Did you do that in the morning or, you know, you said you weren’t a morning person, so did you still do that in the evening?
Jeffrey: Uh, not, not too much. I mean, depends. Okay, for FAR, uh, FAR and, and,
Logan: REG and audit.
Jeffrey: REG, yeah, I, I seldom. But, but AUD is a challenge for me, so maybe I was, yeah, because [00:20:00] I, I haven’t been in auditing, uh, you know, all through my, uh, my career. So I, I do spend much time you, you know, to do AUD, uh, you know, in, in the evening, you are right.
But, but, but it’s better like for the other three, uh, my evening time is better. I, I don’t have to spend too much time.
Logan: Okay. So, so, just to make sure I’m understanding, are you, so, did you study in the evening or did you study in the mornings?
Jeffrey: Um. I mean, I just schedule, like as I work from home,
Logan: Right.
Jeffrey: I may have some, you know, flexible time if, uh, I finish, uh, my assignment today. So I will spend some time to study. So, but, but I don’t, I, yeah, even, I’m not a morning person, but, um, you know, usually [00:21:00] in, in, in the afternoon, I’m fine.
Logan: Okay, so you
Jeffrey: I, I, I used to say I, I’m not an early morning person.
Logan: Yeah.
Jeffrey: I can be a morning person, but not early morning person.
Logan: Right.
Jeffrey: Yeah.
Passed All First Try
Logan: And so once you kind of got into studying with our material, what did you, you said you felt more confident, so how did it go when you did go in to take your first exam?
Jeffrey: Um. So I, I, of course, I, I just, uh, I passed all of them with the first try. Uh, but
Logan: Awesome.
Jeffrey: Yeah, but the, the first time I have had the exam and I think, I always think, okay, I should be able to, to pass, but I’m not quite sure. I mean, it, it just happens for all of them. But, the worst one is the AUD and I think maybe I might lose, but for the other three I have, you know, I have like [00:22:00] much more confidence that I should have passed.
Logan: Right. So, so you felt pretty good about the first three, about FAR, BAR and REG, but when you got to audit, you were like, I don’t, I’m not sure if I passed,
Jeffrey: Yeah.
Logan: But you did pass all of them first try. That’s awesome.
Jeffrey: Yeah.
Logan: Do you remember like your scores and, and, and also how quickly did you get them all done? Like, what was the timeframe?
Jeffrey: Uh, my score is all about like 80.
Logan: That’s pretty dang good.
Jeffrey: Yeah. But, but you know, you, you have to wait for a long time.
Logan: 2024 was the worst year to do it, right?
Jeffrey: Yeah, yeah. That, but, but you know, they, they changed the schedule. So for, for my last one, um, I, I, I tried, uh, AUD in, in January of this year.
Logan: Oh, okay.
Jeffrey: So, and I, I got the, um, score in the next month. For the others, I have to wait, wait for a long time, but, um, I, I will say, I [00:23:00] always think, okay, I think I should like 82, more than 85%. I can pass the other three, but for this one, I will say if I’m lucky enough, I can pass. So that’s, yeah.
Logan: Right.
Studied Using the Questions First Method
Logan: And so when you got into studying with everything, how did you learn? Like, did you go to the questions first? What, what, what did your study sessions look like?
Jeffrey: Oh yeah, yeah. Yeah. I just follow your, uh, your instruction to, to study the, the question first.
Logan: Right.
Jeffrey: I mean, but the only one, again, the only exception is the, uh, the, yeah, audit and especially for, uh, account FAR and the BAR and I, you know, I have the, those knowledge, so I, it has been in my mind for, for so many years.
So it’s [00:24:00] easy for me, like go directly to to, to the, um, to the questions. And also, uh, even I, I didn’t have to go through all the audio class from Becker so that it can it save some time?
Logan: Right.
Took 2-3 Months to Finish Each Section
Jeffrey: Yeah, just like, you know, for me, like FAR I, the time I have Superfast to my, uh, my, my exam is about two months and I, I know it is, maybe it’s not, you know, for some students two months it’s, it’s good enough.
But to me, I, I think It’s quite efficient.
Logan: Right. You felt like two months was, was a pretty good, was a pretty quick timeline.
Jeffrey: Yeah. Yeah.
Logan: Right. And, and what was your timeline like with, uh, BAR and REG and I guess [00:25:00] audit? So you spent two months on FAR, about how long did you spend on the other three, three
Jeffrey: Three months.
Logan: months each.
Jeffrey: Yeah. But the density is different. So spend, you know, I, I spent too much time when I preparing, uh, when I was preparing audit.
Logan: Oh, okay. So, so it was three months for the other three, but it was more intense for audit compared to, you know, maybe REG or BAR. Okay, I see, I get what you’re saying.
Jeffrey: So like, first, uh, exam was in May 2024, and last one was in January, 2025.
Logan: Wow, that’s, that’s pretty good that that’s, uh, what, like nine or 10 months, something like that.
Jeffrey: Yeah, but, but you have to study, you know, prepare, start to prepare the FAR before
Logan: Right? That in February you said, right? Yeah.
Jeffrey: Yeah.
Key Things From SuperfastCPA
Logan: Uh, so if you could kind of, what, what would you say, I mean we kind of already talked [00:26:00] about it a little bit, but what would you say was the key, the key thing that SuperfastCPA gave you allow you to pass the exams? Like what were the key things that just were crucial in you passing?
Jeffrey: I think first one is the build up the confidence, the first one. The second one, uh, is to help me to, um, have clear, more clearer, clear understanding, uh, about some topics. The third one is, uh, I can, you know, I can hear it all the time and go through it. You know, maybe 20 hours, maybe I can go through, uh, the, the, the, all the content of Superfast, like five times during three months.
I don’t, I didn’t count but [00:27:00] when everything repeat in your mind and yeah, it will be, you will have the confidence.
Logan: Yeah.
Jeffrey: I think the major challenge. Yeah, just, just how to retain. And if you, um, if you study, uh, study hard, uh, then after two weeks you, you forgot.
Logan: Mm-hmm.
Jeffrey: Yeah. You, you, you would feel very frustrated.
But, but that, that’s very important too, to, to have, to build up the confidence.
Logan: So you felt like having that constant review all the time really built up your confidence and it sounds like the audio notes were your, were your favorite, like you use those all the time.
Daily Review Sessions
Logan: Uh, did you also do the like daily review where you did like, a set of multiple choice questions to refresh yourself on what you’d gone over?
Jeffrey: Yes.
Logan: You do that every day?
Jeffrey: Yes. I mean, especially like I use the methodology you taught me, especially for [00:28:00] FAR and BAR.
Logan: Mm-hmm.
Jeffrey: And I study from the questions and I took notes like which were wrong, and then, uh, I go to the, the cost and also, so that’s the first round. Then the second round, I just go to the wrong questions
Logan: Mm.
Jeffrey: And then go through them and I, I, I didn’t have to listen to the cause again and just repeat like that and repeat the knowledge from, uh, Superfast and also, and also I spend a lot of time with the, uh, task based
Logan: With the simulations?
Jeffrey: Or I, I don’t remember that. So, but yeah, to, I think it’s good to, you know, to start study that, uh, deeply and, [00:29:00] and it was helpful.
Did Task Based Sims on the Weekends
Logan: And I was, I was gonna ask about that so, you would study the questions first, but you just barely said that you also spent a lot of time with the simulations. So what did, what, how did you study the simulations? Were you studying them every day or did you just study them on the weekend? Like we say. What, how were you studying simulations?
Jeffrey: Yeah, I just follow your instruction. I spend much, much time during weekend on, uh, task based simulation. And in, in the, in the weekdays, yeah, I, I focus on, on the MCQ.
Logan: Right. Okay.
Jeffrey: Yeah.
Logan: And, and so when you got to the weekends and you were studying the sims, how did you approach them? Did you just submit it and start learning right away, or what was your approach for learning from the sims?
Jeffrey: Um, you know, they, they have some, you know, easy one and a difficult one, and for the easy one, uh, of course I just, [00:30:00] I just started, started to work on that and, and I just, you know, if they, I, I had some error. I will just, uh, I would just see the, the, you know, the description why, and find out I, why I was wrong.
But if there was some, some hard questions, and maybe I will go through the, you know, the, the, the video from Becker, you know how to see how they explain and also. And even if I have some something else, more difficult, I’ll send them an email to, to ask a question. But it, it didn’t, I mean, for the email, ask a question, uh, I, I, I didn’t use in my, in FAR and BAR because I, I, I feel, I feel more [00:31:00] comfortable with those and I don’t have so much, uh, difficulties to, you know, to master those sim questions.
Logan: Right.
Had Time to Relax in the Evenings and Have Hobbies
Logan: So yeah, it sounds like you, you know, you just took it one piece at a time trying to figure out like the, each piece of it. And thing that I was gonna ask kind of along the same lines as like, you know, spending a lot of time studying on the weekends and everything. What changed with SuperfastCPA? Uh, like did you have more time for, time with family? Was there, like, what did it allow you to do instead of studying all evening, you know?
Jeffrey: Yeah. I mean, I have more relaxation in the evening.
Logan: Right. And you, you said you have two, you said you have kids, right?
Jeffrey: Yeah, yeah. Yeah.
Logan: So you were able to spend more time with them. Was there any kind of like activity or hobby that didn’t want to give up and because of how you did on the CPA exams, you were able to still do it?
Jeffrey: [00:32:00] Um, I mean, I don’t know if it’s a real hobby or not, but I, I want to study, uh, I enjoy, um, you know, some history information. Uh, especially, you know, to me, I, I’m from a country who had a lot of problem and I, I just, I spent, uh, I have to spend, I, I spend many, longer time to find out what happens from like 100 years ago till now and so I, I always listen to many things.
And so I can, after supper, I can walk around and I can listen to that. So I, I, I just couldn’t stop to, you know, to, to listen to, to those [00:33:00] things. Even, you know, I want to study CPA, to pass the CPA, but, um, but when, when I have, you know, I, when I have Superfast, I can still continue that one. Yeah.
Logan: That’s, that’s awesome. So it allowed you to still have the, yeah, I don’t like the hobby or the study time to be able to learn about the history of, I’m assuming you were saying the history of China and of other things as well. You’re just able to listen to news and things like that.
Jeffrey: Yeah, I mean actually this question mark, like, uh, from 90, you know, 90 zero five till now.
Logan: 1905.
Jeffrey: The country has not had, had some, uh, many transition opportunity, but failed, so that, that, that it, it, it was complicated. So I always listened to, to those, [00:34:00] all kinds of the ideas about that. Yeah.
Logan: That’s awesome that, that you were still able to learn. You, you didn’t have to just focus on the CPA, you were able to still have that other learning that you wanted to have.
Jeffrey: Yes.
Took Notes on a Spreadsheet
Logan: So, overall, like, uh, oh, and also did you, it’s kind of asking another part of the process, how, what, how did you take notes? Like did you take physical notes? Did you do it in a spreadsheet? Did you make flashcards?
Jeffrey: Um, major, uh, uh, majorly spreadsheet.
Logan: Okay.
Jeffrey: Just, and, Nate has, you know, shown on his video
Logan: Yeah. The walkthrough.
Jeffrey: How to do for, um, MCQ, how to do, um, SIM, so, TBS I should say, I mean, it is a little bit, um, you know, it is, it is a great relaxation if you have passed.
Logan: Yes.
Jeffrey: So even I cannot remember TBS.[00:35:00]
Logan: Mm-hmm.
Jeffrey: Yeah.
Logan: Yeah. No, it, it’s amazing how quickly you just kind of forget all of it as soon as you’re done. So don’t worry.
Jeffrey: Yeah.
Logan: Just curious, did you ever use the, so in the forum, the SuperfastCPA chat, I don’t know if you ever signed into that. Did you ever see our multiple choice question walkthrough videos for different topics?
Jeffrey: Uh, so you, you, you are saying your, your questions that, um, I, I just majorly listen and use your, use your instruction.
Logan: For for Becker? Okay.
Jeffrey: And yeah. And also Becker, yeah.
Logan: Right. All right. uh, it sounds like you did really well with, uh, with the whole process.
A Word of Encouragement to People Studying
Logan: What, is there any other part of the process that, or anything in your journey that you want to share with people about, you know, to give them encouragement or anything like that?
Jeffrey: Um, I will say, um, keep on using [00:36:00] Superfast, uh, when you have any chance. So, but you, when, when, when you, when you are so minded and, uh, then also follow, uh, the, you know, method, the study method, uh, from the video of, uh, Nate. So the only thing is that, yeah, I, I, I think it might be helpful to, you know, to listen to those interviews.
I think different people has different methodology, but I, I really didn’t do that too much. Yeah, but it might be helpful.
Logan: About the other podcast episodes, is that right?
Jeffrey: Yeah. Yeah. So, so your interview with other people.
Logan: Mm-hmm.
Jeffrey: I think everybody has something maybe, um, just, you know, you, you hear something and you, you find out, oh, I, I, I didn’t think about it before.
Just like when I see like, [00:37:00] you know, super faster, Superfast, I, I, I didn’t realize, okay, we can just make, make the condensed and to we can repeat and to overcome the problem of re retention. So yeah, it, it, it can, can be helpful, but I, I don’t have, so, uh, I didn’t have so much time to, to listen to, to those podcasts, but I think you, yeah, I, I think it can be helpful.
Different people has different experience. Yeah.
Logan: Absolutely. Yeah. The, I, one thing I’ve loved about the podcast, you know, before I was, before I worked for SuperfastCPA, and you know, now that I’m doing the podcasts, uh, I just love the different stories and the different experiences that people have. I mean, it, you’ve had a really cool experience where, you know, you came from China and you know, sure it was difficult taking these exams when English isn’t your first language, [00:38:00] but you were able to apply these different methodologies and these strategies to still do really well. I mean, you passed all of them first try. That’s awesome.
Jeffrey: Oh yeah.
Logan: And,
Jeffrey: And also Superfast, this was helpful.
Logan: Of course, of course.
Celebrated Passing with Family
Logan: And, uh, actually, I was gonna ask, like, kind of as we’re wrapping up here, what, uh, were you able to, did you do anything to celebrate, uh, did you, or were you just relieved that you were done?
Jeffrey: uh, majorly, i, I relieve, um, yeah, yeah, yeah, because you know, my, uh, uh, my employer is not here, so I, I, I didn’t have so much, uh, you know, I, I opportunity to celebrate everything physically. I just celebrate with my family.
Logan: Right.
Jeffrey: Yeah.
Logan: And, uh, were they happy that you were done as well? Like were, were they or, [00:39:00] or did it not really affect that too much?
Jeffrey: Um, they’re happy. They were happy.
Logan: Yeah. And have you gotten your license yet? Like, I know you finished in January, but do you have your CPA now?
Jeffrey: Yes. Yes.
Logan: Awesome.
Jeffrey: Yeah. And yeah, and it, it is helpful because, I mean, you know, different states have different, um, regulation, but I mean, it’s easy for me to, uh, because I choose the, the, the, the correct state.
Logan: Yeah.
Jeffrey: Yeah.
Logan: So it’s been awesome talking to you, Jeffrey. I have loved hearing everything that you were able to accomplish. If you could, as we’re ending here, what would be your top two or three tips to others who are still going through the CPA exam? What would be your top advice to them?
Jeffrey: I will say it is a long journey. Um, just keep on doing and, uh, your, uh, you know, your effort will, [00:40:00] will pay off anyway. And it’s not it, it is not easy, but, it’s not too difficult.
Logan: Right.
Jeffrey: just, just keep on study and also, uh, study smartly, uh, make good use of what you have. Uh, I think, uh, like the major course, plus mini course, should be good enough.
Don’t spend too much to search online, spend too much time to search online. And, um, manage your time. And also, uh, also relaxation is important when you, during the, the journey anyway, the journey, I mean, to different people, uh, can be short and can be long, especially you have to work and you have to study.
And it might be a long, [00:41:00] long journey, but don’t give up. Yeah.
Logan: That’s awesome. love it. So thanks so much Jeffrey. It’s been awesome talking to you. And uh, yeah, I hope you have a great rest of your day and uh, thanks for being on the podcast.
Jeffrey: Thank you so much for having me.
Logan: No problem.
Logan: All right. That was the episode with Jeffrey. I think it was an awesome episode. Again, I think it’s amazing that even though English was his second language, which I think could make these exams very difficult, especially audit, that he was able to still pass the CPA exam, all of them first try, because he had the best strategies right from the start.
He delved straight into the questions. He listened to the audio notes, he read the review notes, he practiced the sims, he did all the things that SuperfastCPA lays out, and again, he passed the exam’s first try, and he did extremely well. I am sure you loved this episode with Jeffrey and I’m sure it inspired you. I think it was an awesome story. Now, just before you go, make sure you go check out our SuperfastCPA a training webinar on superfastcpa.com.
[00:42:00] Again, that is one hour that will literally save you months and months of struggling with the exams. Go watch that and after you watch that, you’re going to want to learn more. So check out the other podcast episodes and also check out becoming a SuperfastCPA PRO member. PRO members get access to a lot of awesome stuff, including the PRO course where Nate explains in detail exactly how you’re supposed to study.
It’s basically a much more in depth version of the one hour free training webinar. And PRO members also get access to the SuperfastCPA walkthrough videos that I’ve been creating. I’ve been creating multiple choice question walkthrough videos for each blueprint topic one at a time for the exams. I finished FAR, I finished audit.
I have quite a bit of REG and quite a bit of TCP done and I’m currently working on BAR. So make sure you check out those videos on YouTube, we have free versions of them on YouTube, and if you like them, again, check out becoming a PRO member because you’ll get access to the full videos on the SuperfastCPA forum if you’re a PRO member.
So with all that, I hope that you love this podcast episode. Make sure to like it and leave a comment in the YouTube video or leave a rating in your favorite podcast app. With all [00:43:00] that, thanks for watching or listening, and we’ll see you in the next episode.
